Insurance, contracts tackled by C-G board

Canisteo-Greenwood school board members spent their last meeting of the school year discussing insurance, contracts and other payouts.

Bob Clark

Canisteo-Greenwood school board members spent their last meeting of the school year discussing insurance, contracts and other payouts.

The board tabled a discussion on the district’s umbrella insurance coverage that would raise the payout limit — and premiums.

According to district Superintendent Lorraine Patti and business official Theresa McKenna, rising replacement costs and lawsuit judgements in other districts highlight the need for a coverage increase.

According to McKenna, the district pays $13,700 a year for the umbrella coverage, with a $10 million limit. According to the district’s insurance agent, she said, $15 million in coverage is available for $15,814.

Board member Michael Nisbet was concerned the increase was possibly unnecessary.
“Umbrella insurance typically is for when you get sued,” he said. “Replacement should be in your base cost.”

The matter was tabled until the next board meeting, at which the board requested someone from the insurance company explain why the increase is needed at that time.
In other business, the board:

l Tabled a motion to set the salaries for the senior account clerk, business official, district clerk and district treasurer posts, requesting more information on the subject. According to Patti, the salaries have not been increased since 2006 due to the 2007-08 contingency budget.

l Approved contracts with the Steuben County District Special Children’s Services for preschool, Pathways, Inc. for preschool special education, and the annual BOCES contracts.

The BOCES contract is for $3.05 million McKenna said, and the other contracts do not have dollar amounts, as those are agreements to work with Steuben County and Pathways. The board entered into executive session for around 40 minutes to discuss the contracts.

l Authorized the Village of Canisteo to use the Canisteo-Greenwood Elementary School facilities for its summer recreation program. The school board removed the district’s financial assistance to the program before its second budget vote June 17.

l Approved a policy to financially cut off sports that do not have the required number of participants.

l The next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. July 8 at the Canisteo-Greenwood High School. The meeting will be the board’s reorganizational meeting. Peter Wall will be sworn into board member Joel Ordway’s seat, Charles Clemens will be made interim superintendent, replacing Lorraine Patti whose last day is Friday. District Clerk Carol Hammond also is retiring, to be replaced by assistant district Clerk Chrissy Taggert.